UCSB CoE mechanical engineering alum Heap will put his Knight-Hennessy scholarship towards his doctorate in mechanical engineering at Stanford School of Engineering. He aims to translate novel research into impactful robotic systems through a combination of technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills. He is currently working to develop soft, pneumatic “vine” robots for use in search and rescue and hazardous environment inspection. At UCSB, he managed a multidisciplinary team to pursue technical and needfinding development for vine robots, and raised more than $100,000 in funding for the team’s work. William was awarded the UC Regents Scholarship, was a Stanford Summer First Fellow, and is currently a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow.
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is renowned for its multidisciplinary leadership development program and rigorous selection process. In 2023, 7,119 applications were received for 85 awards. Scholars receive a fellowship for up to three years of tuition, depending upon their degree length. They also receive a stipend for living and academic expenses, and a travel stipend for one annual trip to and from Stanford.